SCRIPTURE
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
COMMENT
Up to this point in Romans, Paul has been talking theology. He has been trying to show that the existence of God is without doubt, that all have turned from God to selfishness and sin, to show God's patience with us, to show of God's need for justice. He also talks about man's manipulation of all of this, trying to justify our behavior so that God is to blame for our sin. He then talks about the role of faith in salvation, and how forgiveness is possible, not because of what we can do, but because of what Christ has done. He speaks of God's role in the matter...which many still cannot agree upon today. And now, in these verses, it is as if Paul's spirit has just been overwhelmed with praise. But what a praise.
Who can understand God, or what He does, or how He does it? Who can imagine to give God advice? Who can put God in their debt? No one! He is all and above all, praise the Lord!
It appears to me that it is as if Paul were standing in the presence of God, and his only response it that he is humbled. This is critical, because in Chapter 12, Paul uses the word "therefore," and I believe that these verses are what he is referring to.
One of the things that I believe has to happen in order for us to be able to appropriately respond to God is for us to see God as Paul saw Him, as the sovereign God of the universe who not only is all wise and does not need our advice, but also is perfectly content, and does not need any thing from us. He is God, and all praise goes to Him.
Showing posts with label Praise and Worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Praise and Worship. Show all posts
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
God's Choice? (Romans 9:6-13)
SCRIPTURE
Romans 9:6-13
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
COMMENT
There is a lot of disagreement as to how Romans 9 should be interpreted. I myself have my thoughts, which may or may not be correct. But I think the real question is, are we willing to accept whatever the answer is"
I recall listening to a preacher tell about a child who was ill. I don't remember all fo the details, but the child died. The preacher made the statement, "God did not do that. I could not worship a God who would kill a baby." While I do not relish the idea of a baby dying, that is not where I draw the line of my faith. I am not God, and I cannot put myself in His place. I will not draw a line that says "I will not worship a God who..."
I recall a story from the Old Testament. David had sinned, and as a result his son would die. David fasted and prayed, but the child died. What did David do? Those around him were afraid, for they saw how David responded while the child was still alive. But here is what David did, he worshiped God. (See 2 Samuel 12) Apparently, David did not place limits on what God could do.
As I said earlier, Romans 9 is a controversial chapter. Does God elect those who are saved, or do we have a choice in salvation? Would I say that if I am wrong, I could not worship such a God. Short answer: No.
Romans 9:6-13
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
COMMENT
There is a lot of disagreement as to how Romans 9 should be interpreted. I myself have my thoughts, which may or may not be correct. But I think the real question is, are we willing to accept whatever the answer is"
I recall listening to a preacher tell about a child who was ill. I don't remember all fo the details, but the child died. The preacher made the statement, "God did not do that. I could not worship a God who would kill a baby." While I do not relish the idea of a baby dying, that is not where I draw the line of my faith. I am not God, and I cannot put myself in His place. I will not draw a line that says "I will not worship a God who..."
I recall a story from the Old Testament. David had sinned, and as a result his son would die. David fasted and prayed, but the child died. What did David do? Those around him were afraid, for they saw how David responded while the child was still alive. But here is what David did, he worshiped God. (See 2 Samuel 12) Apparently, David did not place limits on what God could do.
As I said earlier, Romans 9 is a controversial chapter. Does God elect those who are saved, or do we have a choice in salvation? Would I say that if I am wrong, I could not worship such a God. Short answer: No.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
This.Is.A.Tough.One - Mattew 6:25-33
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:25-34
LANGUAGE
Vs. 25 anxious - take thought of
Vs 33 seek - worship God (good sense) plot against (bad sense)
COMMENT
I know that many people deal with heavy loads of anxiety, some even needing counseling, medication, or both to deal with the effects. So to say, "Just don't do it." seems a bit harsh. How do you stop an emotion? How do soldiers or others with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) just stop being anxious? Outside of a direct intervention from God, I do not think it possible.
So how do I interpret this verse? First, I draw distinctions between emotions and choices. Anxiety is an emotional response. But we have some control over our thoughts, or what we take thought of. A parent hears that their child has been in an accident. They cannot help but worry about the condition of their child. But they can choose to believe that God is in control, and regardless of the outcome, they can trust in Him.
So now, rather than felling guilty because something has caused me to feel anxious, I can recognize the emotion and "take every thought captive" instead of letting those thoughts captivate me. (1 Cor. 10:5) Jesus then gives examples to show this idea. Worried about life? Look at the birds. See how God cares for them and recognize He cares much more for you. Look at the flowers. They don't work or toil, yet their beauty abound. If God cares over the flowers, how much more will be provide for you? What good does your worrying do? Does it add to your life at all? No! I believe Jesus says these things to show us how to respond to anxiety rather than to guilt us because of feeling anxiety.
He wraps it up showing us what is important, and that is to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first. Go back to the beginning of the sermon. Think of the beatitudes, which I believe are the foundation for each of the subsequent teachings. Being humble, mourning, poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart. These can be summed up in the idea of worship, with worship being the idea that we cannot achieve salvation of any kind on our own, therefore God must be first. God does not command our worship because He needs it, He does it because we need it. Do you want to have all things added to you? Then worship God. No, not necessarily health and wealth, but peace and joy. Don't worry about tomorrow, let tomorrow worry about itself. And that can only happen when we stop trying to control every outcome, and worship the one who can control every outcome.
Matthew 6:25-34
LANGUAGE
Vs. 25 anxious - take thought of
Vs 33 seek - worship God (good sense) plot against (bad sense)
COMMENT
I know that many people deal with heavy loads of anxiety, some even needing counseling, medication, or both to deal with the effects. So to say, "Just don't do it." seems a bit harsh. How do you stop an emotion? How do soldiers or others with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) just stop being anxious? Outside of a direct intervention from God, I do not think it possible.
So how do I interpret this verse? First, I draw distinctions between emotions and choices. Anxiety is an emotional response. But we have some control over our thoughts, or what we take thought of. A parent hears that their child has been in an accident. They cannot help but worry about the condition of their child. But they can choose to believe that God is in control, and regardless of the outcome, they can trust in Him.
So now, rather than felling guilty because something has caused me to feel anxious, I can recognize the emotion and "take every thought captive" instead of letting those thoughts captivate me. (1 Cor. 10:5) Jesus then gives examples to show this idea. Worried about life? Look at the birds. See how God cares for them and recognize He cares much more for you. Look at the flowers. They don't work or toil, yet their beauty abound. If God cares over the flowers, how much more will be provide for you? What good does your worrying do? Does it add to your life at all? No! I believe Jesus says these things to show us how to respond to anxiety rather than to guilt us because of feeling anxiety.
He wraps it up showing us what is important, and that is to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first. Go back to the beginning of the sermon. Think of the beatitudes, which I believe are the foundation for each of the subsequent teachings. Being humble, mourning, poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart. These can be summed up in the idea of worship, with worship being the idea that we cannot achieve salvation of any kind on our own, therefore God must be first. God does not command our worship because He needs it, He does it because we need it. Do you want to have all things added to you? Then worship God. No, not necessarily health and wealth, but peace and joy. Don't worry about tomorrow, let tomorrow worry about itself. And that can only happen when we stop trying to control every outcome, and worship the one who can control every outcome.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Everywhere a sign...Matthew 4:23-25
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:23-25 (ESV)
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
BACKGROUND
When Jesus came to earth, He came as a humble child. Nothing special to show that He was the Son of God (unless you believe those apocryphal stories of turning mud pies into doves). When He was baptized by John, a limited few might have seen the dove ascend on Him and have heard the Father's voice. Others prior to Jesus also had proclaimed to be the Messiah. What would and could set Him apart? Miraculous signs. Like turning water to wine. Or healing the blind and lame. Especially when those signs could not be denied, like healing a man born blind.
But that is what they were, signs to reveal His divinity, to support His claims and give authority to His teaching. They were not miracles for the sake of performing miracles, or miracles to encourage people to follow Him for the sake of the miraculous (although that was the effect for some).
COMMENTS
It is a sad part of the human nature that we do not really seek after God on our own. (Romans 3:10,11) But seeking after stuff, whether it be healing, riches, relationships, etc. fits right into our nature, and Jesus knows this. That is why He would not entrust Himself to men (John 2:24). Unfortunately, Satan knows this about us to. Just listen to the false gospel being fed to so many by so many. Promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. As if that is the purpose of the miracles.
We must make a choice. Either worship the miracles or the maker of the miracles. To worship the miracles is to not worship God for who He is. I see this mentality a lot. I recently purchased a car, and due to a mistake on the part of the dealership, bought a $10,000 car for $6,000. They had put the wrong price on their internet site, and were willing to stand by that price. What a break! Of course, I shared this with a few others, many of whom said, how blessed I was that day, how God was looking out for me. Really? I have a daughter with a rare disease. I would gladly change that $4,000 for her healing. God, if you are listening...
Of course He is listening. And He is still God, whether my daughter is healed or whether I save $4,000 on a car. Point is, I do not worship God to get the best price on a car, perfect health for me and my family, and so on. It is not that I believe that God does not perform miracles today. I do. But I also believe that when He does, it is for the same purpose as Jesus' miracles. Not for us to chase the miracle, but for us to worship Him, the giver of the miracle. In fact, perhaps when we do not automatically receive a requested miracle, it is His way of loving us enough to keep us from worshiping the wrong things.
Matthew 4:23-25 (ESV)
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
BACKGROUND
When Jesus came to earth, He came as a humble child. Nothing special to show that He was the Son of God (unless you believe those apocryphal stories of turning mud pies into doves). When He was baptized by John, a limited few might have seen the dove ascend on Him and have heard the Father's voice. Others prior to Jesus also had proclaimed to be the Messiah. What would and could set Him apart? Miraculous signs. Like turning water to wine. Or healing the blind and lame. Especially when those signs could not be denied, like healing a man born blind.
But that is what they were, signs to reveal His divinity, to support His claims and give authority to His teaching. They were not miracles for the sake of performing miracles, or miracles to encourage people to follow Him for the sake of the miraculous (although that was the effect for some).
COMMENTS
It is a sad part of the human nature that we do not really seek after God on our own. (Romans 3:10,11) But seeking after stuff, whether it be healing, riches, relationships, etc. fits right into our nature, and Jesus knows this. That is why He would not entrust Himself to men (John 2:24). Unfortunately, Satan knows this about us to. Just listen to the false gospel being fed to so many by so many. Promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. As if that is the purpose of the miracles.
We must make a choice. Either worship the miracles or the maker of the miracles. To worship the miracles is to not worship God for who He is. I see this mentality a lot. I recently purchased a car, and due to a mistake on the part of the dealership, bought a $10,000 car for $6,000. They had put the wrong price on their internet site, and were willing to stand by that price. What a break! Of course, I shared this with a few others, many of whom said, how blessed I was that day, how God was looking out for me. Really? I have a daughter with a rare disease. I would gladly change that $4,000 for her healing. God, if you are listening...
Of course He is listening. And He is still God, whether my daughter is healed or whether I save $4,000 on a car. Point is, I do not worship God to get the best price on a car, perfect health for me and my family, and so on. It is not that I believe that God does not perform miracles today. I do. But I also believe that when He does, it is for the same purpose as Jesus' miracles. Not for us to chase the miracle, but for us to worship Him, the giver of the miracle. In fact, perhaps when we do not automatically receive a requested miracle, it is His way of loving us enough to keep us from worshiping the wrong things.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Wedding Day - The City Harmonic
This is the story of the Son of God
Hangin' on a cross for me
But it ends with a bride and groom
And a weddin' by a glassy sea
Oh, death, where is your sting?
'Cause I'll be there singin'
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
This is the story of a bride in white
Waitin' on her weddin' day
Anticipation wellin' up inside
While her groom is crowned a King
Oh, death, where is your sting?
'Cause we'll be there singin'
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
(Who was, and is, and is to come)
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
(Who was, and is, and is to come)
Is the Lord almighty
This is the story of the son of God
Hangin'…
Hangin' on a cross for me
But it ends with a bride and groom
And a weddin' by a glassy sea
Oh, death, where is your sting?
'Cause I'll be there singin'
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
This is the story of a bride in white
Waitin' on her weddin' day
Anticipation wellin' up inside
While her groom is crowned a King
Oh, death, where is your sting?
'Cause we'll be there singin'
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
(Who was, and is, and is to come)
Is the Lord almighty
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy
(Who was, and is, and is to come)
Is the Lord almighty
This is the story of the son of God
Hangin'…
Source: Musixmatch
10 out of 10 again!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Take a well deserved break...
Father Knows Best. That was the name of an old TV show. It was back in the days of "Leave It to Beaver," "Lassie," and "My Three Sons." Before it was a TV show, it was a radio show. The premise being that as silly things happen in life, as they sometimes do, especially when we stray from the advice of a wise and loving Father, when it ultimately winds up is with the truth that Father Knows Best.
The thought that God made us for himself is amazing. Being God, He could have created more angels, or a new being that was superior to the angels. Oh, wait, he did. But not in the way that we would have done it. We would have created perfect beings that could not sin, that were more powerful. Instead, He created us without wings, and harps if you choose to believe that. He created us with the ability to fall, and now we live in a fallen world. But I believe that Father does know best.
He has given us a heart for Him. He has build worship into us. Don't believe it? Then how do you explain all of those die-hard Cub fans? How do you explain all of the many other sill things that we chase after, knowing that in the end it all ends in death? How can we escape such pursuits? Only as we rest in the knowledge of faith in God.
Jesus came that we might have life, and have it to the full. He said that we can rest in Him. Rest, because He has accomplished for us what we could not ever accomplish for ourselves. Rest because we do not have to earn His grace, we just need to respond to it. I can rest in Him and praise Him, knowing that it was for this that I was created. And what could make a person feel better?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Monday Music
I just want to sit in front of the computer, set it to full screen, and worship. Toward the end, when the children's voices come in, it just sends chills through me.
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